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{{Short description|Indian convicted of murder in the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi (born 1971)}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox criminal
| name = A. G. Perarivaalan
| birth_name = Perarivaalan
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1971|07|30}}
| birth_place = [[Jolarpettai]], [[ Tirupattur District]], [[Tamil Nadu]]
| alias = Arivu
| charge = Bought and supplied two batteries which were used to detonate the bomb that killed [[Rajiv Gandhi]]<ref name="dnaindia1">{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/comment_gnani-sankaran-should-the-state-kill-in-the-name-of-law_1576429 |title=Gnani Sankaran: Should the state kill in the name of law? – Analysis – DNA |publisher=Dnaindia.com |date=16 August 2011 |access-date=25 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiankanoon.org/doc/194120/ |title=State of Tamil Nadu Through ... vs Nalini And 25 Others on 11 May, 1999 |publisher=Indiankanoon.org |access-date=3 December 2012}}</ref>
| conviction = Conspiracy ([[Indian Penal Code|IPC]] 120-B)<br /> Murder (IPC 302)<ref name="frontlineonnet1">{{cite web|url=http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl1622/16221320.htm |title=The final verdict |publisher=Frontlineonnet.com |access-date=25 November 2012}}</ref>
| conviction_penalty =
| conviction_status =
}}

'''A. G. Perarivalan''' (born 1971) is a convict in the [[Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi|Rajiv Gandhi assassination case]]. He was on [[life imprisonment]] along with Murugan and Santhan who were other two convicts of the same case.<ref name="frontlineonnet1"/><ref name="dnaindia1"/><ref>{{cite web|first=S. Vijay |last=Kumar |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article3446943.ece |title=States / Tamil Nadu: Rajiv case convict is exam topper among prisoners |work=The Hindu|date=23 May 2012 |access-date=25 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=M. Gunasekaran, D.C. Vellore |url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/chennai/perarivalan-gives-new-meaning-life-prison-235 |title=Perarivalan gives a new meaning to life in prison |work=Deccan Chronicle|date=29 December 2011 |access-date=25 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/time-ticking-away-on-death-row-a-hopeful-family-campaigns-on/839395 |title=Time ticking away on death row, a hopeful family campaigns on |work=The Indian Express|date=31 August 2011 |access-date=25 November 2012}}</ref> The Supreme Court ordered the release of Perarivalan on 18 May 2022 after he spent over 30 years in jail.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thewire.in/law/sc-orders-release-of-rajiv-gandhi-assassination-convict-perarivalan|title=SC Orders Release of Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Convict Perarivalan|website=The Wire}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Perarivalan was born on 30 July 1971 in [[Jolarpet]], Tamil Nadu to Gnanasekaran alias Kuyildasan and Arputham Ammal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/India/20110826/1820451.html |title=Save my son: Perarivalan's father appeals to Jaya |publisher=News.webindia123.com |date=26 August 2011 |access-date=3 December 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.globalpeacesupport.com/2011/09/arputham-ammal-the-65-year-old-mother-of-one-of-the-three-on-death-row-in-the-rajiv-gandhi-assassination-case-opens-her-heart/ |title=Arputham Ammal, the 65-year-old mother of one of the three on death row in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, opens her heart | Global Peace Support Group |publisher=Globalpeacesupport.com |access-date=3 December 2012}}</ref> His parents were followers of [[Periyar E. V. Ramasamy|Periyar]] who was the founder of [[Dravidian movement]] in Tamil Nadu.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.firstpost.com/politics/rajiv-gandhis-assassination-case-only-a-mother-will-know-this-pain-88234.html |title=Rajiv's assassination: 'Only a mother will know this pain' |date=21 September 2011 |publisher=Firstpost |access-date=7 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=S. Vijay|last=Kumar |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article3446943.ece |title=States / Tamil Nadu: Rajiv case convict is exam topper among prisoners |work=The Hindu|date=23 May 2012 |access-date=3 December 2012}}</ref> Perarivalan did well in school. Perarivalan was the second highest scorer in the school in the 10th standard public examination. After completing class 10, Perarivalan joined the Diploma course (DECE) in Electronics and Communication Technology and completed it. After completing his diploma course, he worked in the computer department in the office of the Viduthalai Daily magazine located at Periyar Thidal in Chennai.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/tamil/india-61494459|title=பேரறிவாளன் விடுதலை: ஒரு நீண்ட போராட்டத்தின் கதை|via=www.bbc.com}}</ref>

He completed his bachelor of computer applications and master of computer applications degrees through the [[Indira Gandhi National Open University]] while still in prison.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tehelka.com/a-life-of-letters-for-the-rajiv-assassination-accused/ |title=A Life of Letters for the Rajiv Assassination Accused |publisher=Tehelka.com |access-date=7 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508082546/http://tehelka.com/a-life-of-letters-for-the-rajiv-assassination-accused/ |archive-date=8 May 2013 }}</ref> In 2012, he scored highest ever mark among prisoners in Plus Two examination with 91.33 per cent. In 2013, he got gold medal by topping a diploma course examination conducted by the [[Tamil Nadu Open University]].<ref>{{cite web|first=S. Vijay|last=Kumar |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/death-row-convict-bags-gold-medal-in-exam/article4508254.ece |title=Death row convict bags gold medal in exam |work=The Hindu|date=14 March 2013 |access-date=7 May 2013}}</ref>

==Arrest and sentence==
He was arrested on 11 June 1991 at Periyar Thidal, Chennai by [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] officers. He was charged with providing a 9-volt battery for the explosive device to assassination conspirator Sivarasan.<ref>{{cite news|last=Janardhan|first=Arun|title=Rajiv assassin's RTI query: Why my plea was rejected?|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-04-15/india/38555362_1_mercy-petition-mercy-plea-home-ministry|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130418054640/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-04-15/india/38555362_1_mercy-petition-mercy-plea-home-ministry|archive-date=18 April 2013|access-date=15 April 2013|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=15 April 2013}}</ref> His death penalty was commuted to life term imprisonment after a Supreme Court verdict on 18 February 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sc-commutes-rajiv-killers-death-sentence/article5701863.ece?homepage=true|title=Supreme Court verdict holds out hope for Rajiv case convicts|website=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> According to the CBI, Perarivalan confessed on August 14, 1991, and August 15, 1991 to purchasing the batteries making him the main suspect. Right from the start, Perarivalan had firmly stated that his confession statements were distorted.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thewire.in/rights/perarivalan-rajiv-gandhi-assassination-release-evidence|title=No Real Evidence Against Him, but Perarivalan Enters 30th Year of Imprisonment|website=The Wire}}</ref>

He has since said that he was unaware of the purpose for which he was buying the batteries, and has consistently maintained his innocence.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/rajiv-gandhi-assassination-case-perarivalan-to-walk-free-after-3-decade-legal-fight-101652853581528.html|title=Rajiv Gandhi assassination case: Perarivalan free after 3-decade legal fight|date=18 May 2022|website=Hindustan Times}}</ref> Perarivalan would repeatedly say during his time in jail that giving a battery shouldn't equate to him knowing about the plot.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://openthemagazine.com/features/ag-perarivalan-a-free-man/|title=AG Perarivalan: A Free Man|date=20 May 2022}}</ref>

==Legal journey==
Perarivalan's case took a turn in 2013 when V. Thiagarajan, a former CBI superintendent of police, acknowledged to tampering with his confession in a documentary by filmmakers from the People's Movement Against the Death Penalty, that he did not take down his statement verbatim.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theprint.in/theprint-essential/perarivalan-ltte-sympathiser-who-got-the-batteries-for-the-bomb-that-killed-rajiv-gandhi/550272/|title=Perarivalan, LTTE sympathiser who got the batteries for the bomb that killed Rajiv Gandhi|date=24 November 2020}}</ref>

In 2018, the Tamil Nadu cabinet unanimously passed and delivered a resolution to Governor Banwarilal Purohit requesting the release of all seven inmates. Three years later, the central government told the Supreme Court (which called the governor's delaying extraordinary) that he was waiting for the Multi-Disciplinary Monitoring Agency—the CBI's Research and Analysis Wing to probe into the bigger plot behind the assassination to be finished. The Supreme Court handed the governor a week to decide in January 2021, but he stated that the President had sole jurisdiction over remission.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/imprisonment-to-bail-how-the-32-yr-old-legal-journey-unfolded-101646852920930.html|title=Imprisonment to bail: How the 32-yr-old legal journey unfolded|date=10 March 2022|website=Hindustan Times}}</ref>

==Release==
On 19 February 2014, Government of Tamil Nadu announced its decision to release him along with six other convicts.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-26252797|title=Rajiv Gandhi murder: Tamil Nadu to free plotters|work=BBC News|date=19 February 2014}}</ref> Having been granted bail by the Supreme Court, Perarivalan was released on bail on 15 March 2022. After
3 decades of wait, the supreme Court uttered a historical verdict of releasing A.G Perarivalan on May 18, 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last1=G |first1=Ananthakrishnan |title=Supreme Court orders release of A G Perarivalan, convict in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chennai/supreme-court-release-ag-perarivalan-rajiv-gandhi-assassination-case-7923122/ |access-date=19 May 2022 |work=The Indian Express |publisher=[[The Indian Express]] |date=19 May 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/perarivalan-released-on-bail/article65228573.ece#:~:text=A.G.%20Perarivalan%2C%20one%20of%20the,his%20mother%20Arputhammal%20and%20others.|title=Perarivalan released on bail|newspaper=The Hindu|date=15 March 2022|last1=Sivaraman|first1=R.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/perarivalan-released-bail-after-31-years-only-interim-relief-says-mother-161934|title=Perarivalan released on bail after 31 years; only interim relief, says mother|date=15 May 2022}}</ref> The Supreme Court criticized Tamil Nadu Governor for sitting on the recommendation by the state government to remit Perarivalan's sentence for almost two-and-a-half years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/perarivalan-case-why-sc-felt-tn-governor-failed-constitutional-obligations-164121|title=Perarivalan case: Why SC felt TN Governor failed constitutional obligations|date=19 May 2022|website=The News Minute}}</ref>

Activists of Pro-Tamil outfits came out on the streets in several parts of the state, raising slogans hailing the Supreme court verdict.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thewire.in/rights/perarivalan-release-reactions|title='A Mother's Fight Ends', 'Welcome Verdict': Politicians, Activists React to Perarivalan's Release|website=The Wire}}</ref> Majority of political parties in Tamil Nadu welcomed the Supreme Court's verdict.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/most-political-parties-welcome-sc-verdict-on-perarivalan-alagiri-says-convicts-not-innocent/article65425752.ece|title=Most political parties welcome SC verdict on Perarivalan; Alagiri says convicts not innocent|date=18 May 2022|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref>

In May 2022, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister [[M. K. Stalin]] hailed the release of Perarivalan and hugged him on his visit of gratitude at the [[Chennai International Airport|Chennai airport]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-05-20|title=Tamil Nadu CM hugs Perarivalan on his release, Congress miffed|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/tamil-nadu-cm-hugs-perarivalan-his-release-congress-miffed-164197|website=[[The News Minute]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-05-19|title=Congress sad, ally DMK hails Rajiv assassination convict release order|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/congress-sad-ally-dmk-hails-rajiv-assassination-convict-release-order/cid/1865761|website=[[The Telegraph (India)]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-05-18|title=Stalin meets Perarivalan, Arputhammal, shares picture|url=https://www.dtnext.in/tamilnadu/2022/05/18/stalin-meets-perarivalan-arputhammal-shares-picture|website=[[DT Next]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-05-19|title=பேரறிவாளனை கட்டியணைத்த "தமிழக முதல்வர்!" கடுகடுக்கும் கதர்கள்! கருணாநிதி பாணியில் களமாடும் ஸ்டாலின்?|url=https://tamil.oneindia.com/news/chennai/why-tamil-nadu-cm-mk-stalin-hug-perarivalan-will-he-take-stand-as-like-as-karunanidhi-458875.html|website=oneindia tamil}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-05-18|title=MK Stalin Meets Perarivalan; Says TN Govt's Right Upheld By SC Ruling|url=https://indiaaheadnews.com/tamil-nadu/mk-stalin-meets-perarivalan-says-tn-govts-right-upheld-by-sc-ruling-204997/|website=[[India Ahead]]|language=en}}</ref> Perarivalan, along with his mother, Arputham, also met AIADMK coordinator [[O. Panneerselvam]] and co-coordinator [[Edappadi K. Palaniswami]]. They both went on to meet several other leaders belonging to different parties including [[Thol. Thirumavalavan]], [[Vaiko]] and [[Seeman (politician)|Seeman]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/perarivalan-release-the-uproar-over-a-hug/article65457204.ece|title=Perarivalan release | The uproar over a hug|first=T.|last=Ramakrishan|date=24 May 2022|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tamil.oneindia.com/news/chennai/perarivalan-meets-naam-tamilar-seeman-459003.html|script-title=ta:'அண்ணன்' சீமான் வீட்டில் 'தம்பி' பேரறிவாளன், அற்புதம் அம்மாள்- நெகிழும் நாம் தமிழர் நிர்வாகிகள்!|first=Mathivanan|last=Maran|date=20 May 2022|website=One India |language=ta}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.puthiyathalaimurai.com/newsview/138662/Perarivalan-thanks-Vaiko-for-his-irreplaceable-works-on-his-case-works|title=``அண்ணன் இல்லையென்றால் இது சாத்தியமில்லை"- வைகோவுக்கு பேரறிவாளன் நெகிழ்ச்சியுடன் நன்றி|website=Puthiyathalaimurai}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.puthiyathalaimurai.com/amp/article/139187/Arputhammal-and-Perarivalan-said-Thanks-to-VCK-Leader-Thol-Thirumavalavan|title='அவரிடம் நியாயம் இருந்தது' - நன்றி சொன்ன பேரறிவாளனுக்கு கிடார் பரிசளித்த திருமாவளவன்!|website=Puthiyathalaimurai}}</ref> His release was welcomed by [[S. Ramadoss]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/perarivalan-release-take-immediate-steps-to-free-other-convicts-too-ramadoss-says/articleshow/91637482.cms|title=Perarivalan release: Take immediate steps to free other convicts too, Ramadoss says | Chennai News - Times of India|website=The Times of India}}</ref> The Tamil Nadu Congress and BJP, however, separately questioned the celebrations after his release.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/congress-bjp-question-celebrations-over-perarivalans-release|title=Congress, BJP question 'celebrations' over Perarivalan's release|website=Free Press Journal}}</ref>

==Book==
* ''An Appeal from the Death Row (Rajiv Murder Case – The Truth Speaks)'' ({{OCLC|230730652}}) – The book was released by [[Communist Party of India]] general secretary [[A. B. Bardhan]],<ref>{{Cite web |author=Staff Reporter |date=26 August 2011 |title=Book by death row convict |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2397545.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111030220111/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2397545.ece |archive-date=2 March 2011 |work=[[The Hindu]] |location=India |access-date=19 May 2022}}</ref> in English, Tamil and Hindi versions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ashar |first=Hemal |date=28 September 2011 |title=In the shadows of the gallows |url=http://www.mid-day.com/news/2011/sep/280911-Rajiv-Gandhi-murder-case-death-penalty.htm |work=[[Mid-Day]] |location=India |access-date=19 May 2022}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Perarivalan, A. G.}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1971 births]]
[[Category:Prisoners sentenced to death by India]]
[[Category:People from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi]]

{{crime-bio-stub}}

A. G. Perarivalan - Revision history

Bot at 23:40, 22 November 2022